NIU Wraps Up ITA Second Chance Regional TournamentHuskies ends fall schedule with hope for the spring

Oct. 23, 2011

ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Northern Illinois women's tennis team completed Day Three of the ITA Second Chance Regional on Sunday with mixed emotions. The Huskies picked up two wins on the final day of play, but overall had a strong showing in the fall's final tournament at Boylan Tennis Center.

"The results were a little mixed today," said head coach Ryun Ferrell. "We played our hearts out and ran out of gas. We have a lot of work to do yet. To win a conference title you need to play good on Day One, better on Day Two, and your best on Day Three. We went good, better, and then back to good. On Sunday, and playing against the competition we played against, we needed to play our best. This was a very tough tournament and this team answered the call. We have a million lessons to learn from and we will learn and be a better team."

Haley Dekkinga (Allegan, Mich./Allegan) picked up her first win of the tournament by defeating Milwaukee's Kelly Fritz 6-1, 2-6, 10-5. Dekkinga followed up her singles victory by helping tally NIU's lone doubles victory. The tandem of Nelle Youel (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central) and Dekkinga took down the partnership of Emeralda and Grinvalde of Chicago State, 8-3.

The Huskies finished the ITA Second Chance Regionals with eight singles victories and an impressive doubles record of 4-2. The team now turns its focus to the spring schedule and will look to build off some early success.

NIU begins spring play against Drake on January 28, 2012, in Des Moines, Iowa.